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Simpson - Figure Drawing Basics
Simpson - Figure Drawing Basics
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
Okay, so anybody can draw a simple stick figure. But the point I'm trying to get across here is that, more
importantly, everyone recognizes what a stick figure representsa person! Isn't that amazing?
Cartoonists are able to communicate even with the most elementary of pictures. Show your drawings to your
friends and see if they can tell what your stick figures are doing. If they misidentify some of your drawings,
that's okay. Many poses will be open to interpretation. Just compliment them on their keen perception and
head back to the drawing board!
Conveying specific actions and even emotional states of mind with a few quick linesand I dare say as few
lines as possibleis an important first step towards drawing fully realized figures. If you can accomplish that
with your limited stick figures, think of what you can accomplish with even more tools at your disposal.
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
Our new, sleeker stick figure seems to lend itself to more graceful
and athletic themes. But try comical situations as well. You may
even use some of your 4096 poses you came up with for the
shorter, stubbier stick figure and see if they can be translated to
the more sophisticated model.
Your friends may tell you they like your older, funnier work
betterdon't be discouraged! Keep right on drawing.
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
Sphere
Cube
Cylinder
You can make your figures suddenly bursts off the page and come alive in three dimensions very easilyno
complex shading or heavy-handed lighting tricks involved. Just use variations of the three simple geometric
shapes at leftsphere, cube and cylinderand youll be amazed at how your figures fill up space!
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
The Head
Of our three basic solids,
head, chest and hips, lets
start at the top.
Conceiving of the head as an
egg is good for starters, but it
will only get you so far. A
light bulb shape is a bit
better, and a wheel of cheese
is interesting, too.
There are two main parts to
the head: the skull and the
face. The skull is somewhat
like a sphere with the sides
flattened (like a wheel of
cheese, while the face is
triangular.
Eye line
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
The Torso in 3D
Its popular in artistic circles
to think of the chest and hips
as two boxes. Its also equally
in vogue to think of is as two
cylindrical shapes, or even
3D ovals. Personally, Ive
settled on a hybrid set of
shapes of my own devising
a box for the hips, and a
chest that is a cross between
a beehive and a Chinese
lampshade. Thats the best I
can explain it.
Whatever shapes you decide onand its important because these are two of our three basic solids herethe
main thing is to keep the spine in mind. Notice how the geometric shapes really make clear the twisting, turning and bending of the torsos below. Theres really no ambiguity as to which way the figure is moving. And
such clarity only adds to the impact of your figures, their actions, and the stories theyre involved in.
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
Follow the same routine weve established. First, draw the main line of action, or the spine, to determine the
main thrust of your pose, Then continue with the limbs of your figure as stick lines. Only now, flesh out your
three basic solids (head, chest and hips) with geometric shapes to make your figures come alive in three dimensions. Work with it!
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
A Select Bibliography
Most of what I know about drawing I've learned from books. Below is a list of books I recommend for every
artist's library, particularly if you're in it for the long haul. These are all books that I have learned from, and in
many cases, continue to learn from. Study them closely.
Comparative Anatomy (Human/Animal)
Animal Drawing/Anatomy
Animation
Comics
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com
Cartoonist Don Simpson is the creator of Megaton Man, Border Worlds, Bizarre Heroes and many other
comic books. Since 1996, Don has been creating Megaton Man adventures exclusively for the Internet at
www.MEGATONMAN.com.
Figure Drawing Basics is the first chapter of CartooningConcepts and Methods, an instructional book Don is
creating to convey his approach to writing, drawing, storytelling and other aspects of making comic book art.
Future chapters will delve into human anatomy, animals, perspective, inking, lettering and writing, among
other things. For more information and updates, please check with www.MEGATONMAN.com.
This book is dedicated to my wife, Judy.
Megaton Man and Gower Goose are and Don Simpson, all rights reserved.
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CartooningConcepts and Methods Part 1: Figure Drawing Basics, and Don Simpson 2000, all rights reserved. For individual use only. Classroom use without express written permission is strictly forbidden. Please email fiasco@MEGATONMAN.com for information. Published by Fiasco Comics Inc., PO Box 64, Wexford, PA 15090. www.MEGATONMAN.com